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"How are ghouls able to touch us?" I asked "And for that matter, how are fae able to touch us?"

"I don’t know for sure," she replied "All I know is that both are spirits of a different kind Although they can assume physical forms--as solid as any human--their natural state is subtle"

I wondered now if jinn could touch and see ghosts I’d never gotten a chance to see Aisha again after I left my body She’d been trapped in Julie’s blasted Elder box

My ht me I’d ventured beyond the walls and explored the vacuu, I’d yelled I supposed that those fae h I hadn’t been able to spot the around on the other side

"I doubt there is any ‘other side’ after all," Chantel croaked

"Oh, there may well be," the old woman replied "A counterfeit object doesn’t preclude the existence of a genuine one It’s just that this… this is all a hoax To unsuspecting humans or supernaturals--those who have never encountered fae before--they look quite like the traditional concept of angels, don’t you think? The cunning creatures know this, and they use this to fool people and lure them into their trap They are the worst,on the hopes and desperation of lost souls"

Bastards

Noondered whether it was even possible for a ghost to reach the other side, if the whole glowing gate thing was a load of crap I wondered whether "the other side" was still indeed beyond the walls of the portal, as Nolan and Chantel had believed Anyway, there was no point in thinking of it now

Myto tell ed to escape this place?"

"That is what I’ it’s impossible but after a few tries… it tends to wear you down There’ve been cases of particularly stubborn ghosts who try and try again, but it’s always the rehosts here is that five is the unlucky nu?"

"After five atteht add, which they always are--no ghost has been known to possess enough life to warrant the ghouls keeping them in the levels above The Necropolis"

My eyes traveled over the griin to our conversation Their hopeless, pale faces were a harrowing sight, and these ghosts were supposed to be ahost would still have a sound mind after one year in this hellhole It was no wonder that they becahost like here? What did they do all day and night, cooped up like koi fish? I guessed the sahosts do with their tih in this place, I couldn’t ihtain wondering what she was--or rather what she had been This time, I asked

"A olf," she replied, with a small, strained smile